title: Communication in the initial paediatric consultation.
abstract: The first time a paediatrician meets with a patient, either with or without parents or caretakers, there are generally two aims with this consultation. Aside from exchanging relevant information for diagnosis, a relationship develops. This relationship is an important factor in the encounter: it can facilitate or impede collaboration between the partners in the consultation. The paediatrician can influence this relationship so that it becomes beneficial in the diagnostic process and in creating a collaborative atmosphere in the consultation, which in turn will prove useful for adherence. This paper addresses this second aim: how can we use the relationship between the patients (with or without parents) and their doctors to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the encounter. Below we will first address why investing in a relationship is beneficial. Next we will describe how this can be done. The review will continue with a discussion of three important pitfalls and how to avoid them, and a small epilogue will provide a brief summary.
authors.affiliation: Skillslab, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands. Electronic address: j.vandalen@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Dalen
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: van den Eertwegh
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D010372:Pediatrics; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Communication; Doctor–patient relationship; Initial consultation